Gallon of Gas Hits $5

The $5 price tag comes at a crucial time when the overall cost of living in the region has increased and follows on the back of an international oil price surge.

At the Esso Service Station on Soldier and Wulff roads, motorists said the price hike has left them outraged and dreading things to come.

Pastor Hugh Roach said the price increase is especially difficult for senior citizens who are no longer working.

"We who’ve been here a long time and saw the way things are going, we feel they should have a special discount for us," said Pastor Roach, who was filling up his vehicle at the station, "at least for us because we’re retired."

Other motorists said the prices are unbelievable.

"I think it’s outrageous, but what can you do?" asked James McIntosh, as he pumped his gas. "I don’t know if you can [avoid spending so much on gas], what can you do, catch a bus, ride a bike?"

Ginger Brown, who was waiting to have her car filled, said $5 is too much to pay for a gallon of gas and suggested that people start carpooling.

Another motorist, Mispah Ferguson, said the high cost had her feeling sick.

"I have a headache right now," she said. "I won’t be able to buy any food. It’s ridiculous."

But not everyone who spoke to the Bahama Journal on Wednesday expressed outrage.

Charlene Williams, who has been working for Esso for almost 14 years, said the price hike didn’t move her.

"It doesn’t make a difference to me because I have to drive my car," Ms. Williams said.

"There’s nothing we can do about the gas prices. Everything in the stores have gone up so it doesn’t make a difference if the gas goes up; there’s nothing I can do about that.

"All we could do right now is take our time driving [and not drive] as much as we used to because gas has gone up, school fees have gone up, food has gone up. All we could do is be cautious of how we drive our vehicles now."

Other motorists said the price increase was inevitable and to a certain degree unavoidable.

"I don’t know what’s going to happen as it relates to gas," Paula Meadows said. "I guess it’s gone up all over the world; fuel has gone up, so it’s kind of expected but still it’s very expensive."

Some motorists said it’s time for Bahamians to take action to cope.

"I think that we have to do some carpooling and that would help us a little bit," Pastor Roach said.

"I also think that if they keep raising the prices we ought to agree on a certain day when we’re not buying any gas. In other words, there’s people power and we have to exert ourselves as citizens. We are the consumers and they are depending on us, but we don’t want them to take us for granted."

Mrs. Meadows also said motorists ought to do some cutting back.

"I mean it’s very expensive; we’re going to have to cut back on all the places we go especially if they’re not places that are necessary," she said. "Think about where you’re going first."

Mark Anderson, a father of one, said the increased cost has only affected his pockets a little.

"But considering, I have to make the runs to pick up my wife and daughter, so instead of using two vehicles we just use one," he said.

At Shell service stations on Wednesday a gallon of gasoline cost $4.83, while at Texaco Bahamas the cost was $4.85 per gallon.

Sidney McKenzie, chief price inspector at the Department of Consumer Affairs, told the Bahama Journal Wednesday the reason why Esso’s prices are higher than the other service stations is that Esso bought its fuel at a time when fuel prices were higher on the international market.

Mr. McKenzie said it remained uncertain whether Shell and Texaco stations will also raise their prices.

He noted that the market is very volatile and prices change hourly, so it’s hard to keep track of when the prices will rise.